Universal joint



June 26, 1923. 1,469212 P. CLIVE UNIVERSAL JOINT Filed April 1, 1921 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 0 TTORNEY AMILZHZ P. OLIVE UNIVERSAL JOINT Filed April 1, 1921 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Fatented June 26, W23.

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unis stares PAUL OLIVE, 01F HEMPSTEAD, NEW YORK.

- UNIVEL JQI'NT.

Application filled. April 1,

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that l, PAUL OLIVE, a citizen of France, and resident of Hempstead, in the county of Nassau and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Universal Joints, of which the following is a specification.-

The present invention relates to universal joints, and has for its objects the provision of a power transmission device of this character which smoothly operates without jarring or jolting; which absorbs all shocks between a driving and a driven shaft; which requires no lubrication; and is of durable, inexpensive and simple construction comprising few parts assembled in such novel manner as to maintain the device in constantly operative condition.

In carrying out my invention I employ flexible sheet metal discs embodying a plurality of integrally formed radially spaced se 'ments and means for coupling them to ad acent shaft-sections, as fully hereinafter disclosed and specifically set forth in the ap ended claims.

n the accompanying drawings forming part of this specification, Figure l is an end view of one embodiment of my invention. Fig. 2 is a side view. thereof. Fig. 3 is a similar side view-as seen from another angle. Fig. l is an end view illustrating a slight modification; and 5 is an edge view oi the discs forming part thereof. Fig.

6 is a side view of a modified disc construction; and big. 7 is a cross sectional view thereof taken on the line 7--7 of said Fig. 6. Fig. 8 is a side view illustrating a further .modification. Fig. 9 is a cross sectional view thereof; and Fig. 10 is a side view showing a still further modification of disc construction.

lln the embodiment of my invention as illustrated, referring particularly to Figures 1 to 3, inclusive, 1 provide a circular disc 1, composed of flexible sheet metal and which embodies, in integral formation, concentrically arranged members 2, 3 and ll which are radially connected by oppositely located integral segments 5 and 6 and spaced apart by c positely located segmental slots 7 and 8, whereby the members 2, 3 and 4 respectively embody segments adapted for bending movement in opposite directions.

Fixed to the inner disc member Land having its arms extended on a diametrical line which bisects the segments 5, is a yoke or 1921. Serial No. 457,834.

' coupling 9, having a hub 10 adapted, for connection with a shaft section 11. Each arm of theyoke 9 is provided with a screw-stud 12 which extends through the member 4 and a washer 13, and is secured by a nut 14. On the opposite side of the disc 1, and hav ing its respective arms extended on a d ametrical line which runs in a right angle direction across the yoke 9 and bisects the segments 6, is a similar olre 15, having a. hub 16, adapted for fixed engagement with a shaft-section 17. The free ends of the arms of said yoke 15 are respectively provided with a screw-stud 18 which extends through the member 2 and a washer 19, and is fixed by means of anut 20.

The shafts 11 and 11?, when extended on non-coaxial lines diverging from the disc center, as shown byFigures 2 and 3, may constitute a driving and a driven shaft, whereby rotary motion imparted to one transmits rotary motion to the other with out any jarring or grinding action, owing to the yielding and flexible nature of the disk members whose integrally connected segments traverse on spiral lines in perfect unison and without friction, thus eilectuallv cushioning and absorbing any shocks in. the driving shaft which are generally transmitted through the ordinary universal joints. and-ac: to rapidly wear their hearing points, whereby the strain is intensified, and the full impact of the driving force is transmitted to the driven means. By employing my invention all shocks and jolts are ab sorbed in the joint itself and the driven means may be operated without having any jarring and racking motion transmitted thereto.

My invention may comprise a single disc, as above described, or a plurality of discs 1*, 1 and 1 may be employed, as shown by Figures 4 and 5 of the drawings. When a plurality of discs are employed they are laterally spaced apart by means of fixed trated a disc construction of slghtly modiloca Various other disc shapes and difierentialarrangements of parts may be employed without departing from the spirit and scope In Figure '10 of the drawingsI have illusfied conformation embodying a plurality of integrally formed segments 25, having lateral openings 26 therethrough, for engaging fastening means of spider-like couplings, and a lurality of segmental spacing slotsg27 in staggered correlation.

of my invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. A universal joint comprising a flexible disc embodying a plurality of integrally formed, concentrically arranged annular members respectively embodying a plurality of radially connected segments, ,and meanswfor coupling said discto oppositely located adjacent shaft sections.

2. A unlversal joint comprising a flexible sheet metal disc embodying a plurality of integrally formed concentrically arranged annular members respectively embodying a plurality of radially connected segments,

and means for coupling the outer annular member to a shaft section, and means for coupling the inner annular member to an adjacentshaft section.

3. A universal joint comprising a flexible disc composed of superposed layers, said disc embodying a plurality of integrally formed concentrically arranged annular members respectively embodying aplurality of radially connected segments, and

means for coupling the outer annular mem-.

bers to a shaft section, and means for coupling the inner annular member to an ad acent shaft section.

4:. A universal joint comprising a flexible sheet metal disc embodying a plurality of integrally formed concentrically arranged members respectively embodying a plurality of radially spaced segments, and a coupling fixed to one side of the inner member of the disc, and an oppositely located coupling fixed to the outer member of the disc, said coupling adapted for connection with oppositely located non-coaxial sections.

5. A universal joint comprising a flexible disc embodying a plurality of integrallv formed, concentrically arranged annular members respectively embodying a plurality of radially connected segments, and means for reinforcing said segments, and means for coupling said disc to oppositely located adjacent shaft sections.

Signed at the city of New York, in the county of New York and State of New York, this 20th day of March, A. D. 1921.

" PAUL OLIVE. 

